NaFFAA Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirmation For DACA 

Washington, D.C. - The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) commends the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, deferring back to the Department of Homeland Security for reconsideration.

Initially introduced in 2012 during the Obama Administration, DACA provides the opportunity to individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children through unauthorized entry two years of protection from deportation, work authorization, and limited federal benefits. 

According to the Pew Research Center, an overwhelming majority of Americans surveyed are in favor of the program. The Center for American Progress has reported that beneficiaries of DACA represent $8.7 billion in taxes and $24 billion in spending power.  DACA recipients have received advanced degrees, bought property, and opened businesses.  Furthermore, about 29,000 DACA recipients are health care professionals working on the front lines of the COVID-19 response.

"NaFFAA has advocated for DACA since its inception and is grateful for the many protections that the program affords so many young Filipinos,”  says Brendan Flores, President and National Chairman of NaFFAA. 

"Of the approximately 800,000 recipients of the relief provided by the federal action, about 5,000 young Filipinos have been given the opportunity to become contributing members of our great nation. NaFFAA remains committed to protecting DACA, and it is my hope that this program continues to be an equitable pipeline to add to the fabric of our rich and diverse culture here in the United States."